The Hague, Jan 11 (IANS): Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte will attend the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Queen Maxima and Health, Welfare and Sports Minister Edith Schippers will also join the Dutch delegation, reports Xinhua.
“The Netherlands will be represented. We reject a boycott (to protest anti-gay laws). It is better to engage in dialogue,” Rutte said at his weekly press conference here.
The Dutch king will go as an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but also as Dutch head of state, stressed Rutte.
“We’re going to support our athletes and while we speak to politicians, I will not keep my mouth shut,” Rutte added.
The composition of the delegation to Sochi is delicate because of the alleged violation of human rights in Russia and the introduction of anti-gay laws.
The political leaders of Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and the United States recently declined Russia’s invitation to come in February for the Games.
